Process Research Engineer

Location: Middletown, OH

Cleveland-Cliffs Steel has an immediate opening for a Process Research Engineer at our Research & Innovation Center located in Middletown, Ohio. The Process Research Engineer will provide direct support and advice to various plant operations related to ironmaking or rolling. This support will focus on making improvements to corporate ironmaking or rolling assets to drive positive changes in bottom-line metrics such as safety, quality, productivity, product yields, equipment reliability, and operational costs.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• Serve as one of the company’s ironmaking or rolling experts, supporting the company’s various operating departments to help resolve and prevent issues, identify potential improvements, drive down operating costs, and keep abreast of technologies (including AI) which could contribute positively to the profitability of the company.

• Advise and assist with identifying and communicating best practices related to ironmaking or rolling. This includes effective interaction with multiple personnel at various levels of management as well as planning and execution of internal technical discussions.

• Utilize the Research & Innovation Center’s analytical laboratory capabilities and small-scale industrial equipment to help investigate steel plant issues, inspect/evaluate materials, and/or simulate operating conditions.

• Participate in and sometimes lead trials related to ironmaking or rolling. This requires utilization of management of change practices prior to, during, and after the trials to ensure all risks are evaluated and decided, the trial is executed successfully, and the outcome is well understood.

• Travel, sometimes up to 30%, may be required in support of Cleveland-Cliffs’ manufacturing plants and customer applications.

• Other duties as assigned.  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s or PhD in an engineering discipline or a Bachelor of Science degree in an engineering discipline along with a minimum of 10 years’ work experience in pertinent steelmaking operations.

• Deep technical understanding of ironmaking and/or flat-rolled steel rolling operations.

• Ability to work independently and problem-solve complex industrial issues.

• ­High proficiency in Microsoft desktop programs and data management.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct work experience in steel manufacturing, specifically ironmaking or rolling, with an understanding of technical operational and maintenance aspects of steel processing.

• Deep understanding and proven experience with data extraction, analysis, and utilization including process modeling.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Experience creating or editing machine control logic and systems.

• Willingness to continually learn about advances in Artificial Intelligence and how these technological advancements can be safely and efficiently leveraged to advance steel manufacturing.

• History of published work is useful to demonstrate ability to document and bring work to a conclusion.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is the largest flat-rolled steel company and the largest iron ore pellet producer in North America. The Company is vertically integrated from mined raw materials, direct reduced iron, and ferrous scrap to primary steelmaking and downstream finishing, stamping, tooling, and tubing. We offer an excellent total compensation package including competitive pay with variable compensation opportunity, health insurance, retirement plan, education assistance, paid time off and more.